State park trail entry point.

Journey Home

Tales from the pilgrimage.

politics

  • Last Days of August

    On Friday, I received a second set of comments on the second part of my autobiography, A Working Life. Two more copies are out to early readers who are close family members, yet I’m ready to move forward with the second big edit. I expect this work to begin as the garden winds down. There… Read more

  • Reduce NDAA Spending

    The following was sent to U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, along with U.S. House Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks… Read more

  • Member of Congress Manufactures Campaign Material

    I used to think I could talk with Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks. That was in 2008 during her first run for Congress. I was on the county board of health and felt that gave me standing to discuss issues with the ophthalmologist. I found her during a break between two parades in Johnson County and asked… Read more

  • Bohannan will Address Social Security Shortfall

    I plan to vote for Christina Bohannan for Iowa’s First District congressional seat because of her position on Social Security. In an Oct. 10, 2025, email, she wrote: “It’s the job of our leaders to ensure every American gets the benefits they worked for.” The challenge is clear. In its June 9 report, the Social… Read more

  • Will Republicans Vote for a Democrat?

    It is a commonplace of 2026 Iowa Democratic campaigns that candidates must appeal beyond party lines. Set aside the registration numbers (only 527,675, or 29%, of Iowa’s 1,807,752 active registered voters are Democrats), and winning non-Democratic votes is essential. My question is whether Republicans will vote for a Democrat. It is one thing to attend… Read more

  • Mark Divitt for Iowa House District 91

    When Mark Divitt voted in the June 2 Democratic primary he noted there was no candidate on his ballot for the Iowa House of Representatives. That led to his decision to run, followed by Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart calling a special nominating convention for House District 91 on July 9. About half of… Read more

  • Solon Beef Days Parade 2026

    It is fitting that the late Scott Kleppe was named honorary Grand Marshall of this year’s Solon Beef Days. Kleppe was a constant presence in the city, and helped set up and tear down the event for decades while in the city’s public works department. He died unexpectedly on June 10. He will be missed… Read more

  • A Case for Christina Bohannan

    I’m all in for the third time with Christina Bohannan for U.S. Congress in Iowa’s First District. Over the three cycles she has run, I had more than my share of one-on-one conversations with her. I have confidence she will do what she believes is right for the district and the country. That doesn’t mean… Read more

  • America 250

    As the 250th anniversary of signing the Declaration of Independence approaches, I re-read the document. I plan to read it again before the 4th of July. Living as I do in current times, I can’t believe men wrote these words. I also wonder how women influenced the document. Because our knowledge of the event is… Read more

  • The Faces of Voters

    When I accepted employment as a poll worker, I decided to buy a new shirt—one with a collar. I’m not one to spend much time on presentation, yet the white shirt with blue vertical stripes made me look more professional. I wore it on primary election day when I began a fifteen-hour shift greeting and… Read more